In an act that restores faith in humanity, 59-year-old James Brady was rewarded the full $850 that he found lying in the street in a bank envelope six months ago.

Brady, who was living at a homeless shelter at the time, turned in the cash to police in Hackensack, N.J., after discovering it last April, the New Jersey Recordreports. But the unclaimed money sat for six months before officers returned it to its finder.

“Even though I was homeless, I thought there are people out there who could be worse off,” he s aid. “I had my mother’s voice in my head: ‘It’s not yours.'”

Brady became homeless following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. A trained news photographer who transitioned into a career as a market data analyst, Brady was meant to be at the World Trade Center that day for a conference but canceled at the last minute. The event sent Brady into a severe bout of depression, which resulted in unemployment and eventually led to the emptying of his bank account over the last 10 years until he was evicted.

In July Brady was given a Housing Authority voucher to pay for a one-bedroom apartment, where he now lives. With the newly acquired cash, the former homeless man is looking forward to buying a mat for his bath tub, among other basics.